Election Commission to formulate social media policy soon: O P Rawat

The use of PR firms to shape public opinion on the social media was flagged by Election Commissioner O P Rawat.PTI | August 19, 2017, 11:50 IST

With public relations firms being used by parties to shape public opinion online, the Election Commission is formulating a social media policy to address the issue.

The use of PR firms to shape public opinion on the social media was flagged by Election Commissioner O P Rawat.

“It has come to the notice of the commission that paid operators run by PR firms are being actively deployed to shape public opinion online,” he said.

With increasing spread of mobile internet technology, the influence of social media was also increasing and it was high time that it was recognised as media and its content was monitored, he added.

“I’m happy to state that the ECI is formulating its social media policy and we are hopeful that it is likely to address such issues,” Rawat added.

Addressing a consultation on electoral and political reforms organised by there Association for Democratic Reforms here yesterday, Rawat also hit out at the political class, saying winning today was more important without consideration of ethics.

“Democracy thrives when elections are free, fair and transparent. However, it appears to a cynical common man that we have been scripting a narrative that places maximum premium on winning at all costs to the total exclusion of ethical considerations.

In this narrative, poaching of legislators is extolled as smart political management; strategic introduction of money for allurement, tough-minded use of state machinery for intimidation etc are all commended as resourcefulness,” he said.

His remarks came just days after the political drama in Gujarat ended. The EC had invalidated votes of two Congress MLAs during Rajya Sabha polls for violating secrecy norms and the Congress’ Ahmed Patel had won narrowly. Rawat said under the new narrative “the winner can commit no sin. A defector crossing over to the ruling camp stands cleansed of all the guilt as also possible criminality”.